I recently got a cheap filter/adapter tube kit for my Olympus C-4040 Zoom. I shoot a lot of scenery, so I want to try a wide angle conversion lens now that I have the adapter..

Can someone recommend a decent lens for this purpose? (standard 58mm threaded) I don't want it to be garbage, but not much more than $30 either. Even if it's not great, hopefully it would be a worthwhile and effective learning tool if nothing else. I see tons of them on ebay but many are not branded, and I don't know brands anyway. Any opinions welcome..thank you!..

Comments (10)

At your $30 price point, it really doesn't matter which one you buy. Garbage is garbage, and that is what you are going to get..

It may be fun to play with, but it isn't going to make your pictures better. I would hazard a guess that image quality will suffer... a lot..

There is a reason that the Oly WA conversion lens costs too much. Not all of that reason involves a greedy corporation overcharging for their product... a good wide angle lens is not easy to make..

OK. I had seen people here recommend filters for around $30 as being decent, so I thought lenses might be similar. It looks like you can get an Olympus WA lens on ebay for about $80 if you're patient, which isn't too bad..

What about the brand Rayvox? BHPV sells WA lenses by them for about $60. Might that be getting into usable, decent territory?..

Comment #2

Raynox is a rather large company, making all sorts of add-ons and bits and pieces..

They actually do make a few decent add on lenses for video..

As long as you aren't expecting miracles from the lens, even the cheap ones can be fun to play with. Mid-range price doesn't guarantee quality, but if you can get the Oly, that will probably be the best choice. The Oly add on is made for your specific camera, by the people that know it best. It will perform better than any generic WA..

Go used on Ebay looking for the Olympus IS/L B28 or Wcon 08... They're both the same 55mm thread mount lens or Ya might even try to get the Wcon 08B which is a 62mm threadmount. Or if you want a tad wider still, go for the Wcon 07, that's also 55mm threadmount... If you look long enough, on a daily basis, you'll eventually get one as long as you don't mind going for used... Then another few bucks for the proper 52mm-55mm or 52mm-62mm stepring & you shouldn't have any problem...

Be carefull though because there are other versions, usuually lettered such as Wcon 07C or similar that are bayonet mounts that won't work with a thread mount tube.... The 08b or 08E are the only lettered versions that will work & that's because they are thread mounts... As I already typed the 08b is 62mm that'll require a 55-62mm stepdown ring & the 08E is the same 55mm thread mount lens as the one that has no letter but the E comes with a stepring you will have to replace with the 52-55mm step down ring..

You can try Raynox & tiffen too but they won't be quite as good as the Olys & I doubt the a good Raynox will be as low as $30... Ya might find Tiffens for closer to that than either of the others.....

I've tried some sheapies on my Oly c2100uz, including a Tiffen & some old Canon & they both sucked.... I've also tried a video grade lens or two that also sucked...Fancy that.. I just di a quick Ebay search & this:.

Is a pretty good deal... That might even be new @ half the normal brand new price, even if it is a bit more than you want to spend....

And whatiya know, the same guy has the identical B28 I also mentioned & actually have too:.

Http://cgi.ebay.com/...3344QQtcZphotoQQcmdZViewItemQQ_trksidZp1742.m153.l1262For even less than the previous Wcon08.....

And the good thing about those is they're good on a lot more cams than just yours... I use them on Fz30 & Fz50 as well as my old Oly c2100uz & e100rs...It ain't gonna get much better & cheaper than that, especially for brand new...And it might get better if this 07:.

Doesn't get heavy bid action... Multiply .8 or .7 to whatever your widest angle of zoom no your cam is to get what focal length they'll give you on your cam.... You might be able to find the step ring locally....

Thanks for the info, I've been keeping an eye out the last week for one of these..

One question is, does 55mm for the B-28 refer to the rear thread or front? They're clearly not the same so what size is the other one (not 55mm)?..

Comment #5

Slowpogo wrote:.

Thanks for the info, I've been keeping an eye out the last week forone of these..

One question is, does 55mm for the B-28 refer to the rear thread orfront? They're clearly not the same so what size is the other one(not 55mm)?.

I don't believe any of the Oly lenses are threaded in front... All the thread sizes I mentioned pertaining to them were the rear, smaller end that screws into the lens or adapter tube on the camera... If you go to Olympus own webpage & look under your camera model for accessories, you'll probably see at least the 55mm threaded Wcon 08 & probably the 07 too.. I don;t remember if you mentioned your tube being the official Oly tube but as long as it's no longer than the official Oly tube the Wcons should work no problem.. If the tube is longer.. there may be a vignette issue due to that extra length causing the Wcon to be too far away from the lens when it's zoomed to full wide position...Actually I just checked & they list the 07 officially:.